Never before have journalists faced May 3, World Press Freedom Day, with such concern and apprehension. The future of the media and journalism as a profession has never looked so bleak and discouraging.
Reporters Without Borders announced that the global Press Freedom Index is at its lowest level since this type of measurement began. And Reporters Without Borders need not measure anything — it is plain to see that the media have become enemies to many politicians and governments around the world. And not only to those in authoritarian regimes, but also to those governing so-called democratic countries.
How the media and journalists have become unwelcome in parts of the democratic world is a topic in itself, yet the overall global climate is not favorable to this once-respected profession. And it is not only politicians who are targeting journalists and media outlets. The ultra-wealthy tech giants have also decided to take the media under their control, to ensure they do not interfere with their vision of absolute freedom of expression. You can see what that “freedom” looks like in practice simply by visiting any major social network.
So what are we to do when more than half the planet seems to have conspired to destroy the media? Montenegro has never had much sympathy for independent and free media.
We simply do not have that tradition, due to a variety of historical circumstances. The beginnings of independent journalism here have existed for just over a decade.
Nevertheless, right before this global holiday of the media, it happened that in Montenegro, a journalist resigned due to censorship in the outlet where he worked.
This small event attracted the attention of almost the entire public and showed that journalistic integrity and faith in the profession can sometimes overcome all these regressive forces we spoke of earlier. The name of that journalist is Nemanja Živaljević.
Ranko Vujović
Executive Secretary
Media Coucil for Self-Regulation
